AFSP: Firearms and Suicide Prevention
Information
It’s crucial that firearms owners are aware of safe storage practices and other elements of suicide prevention. To help make suicide prevention education a basic component of firearms ownership, we’ve partnered with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for America's firearms industry, to help distribute materials to its national network of retailers and ranges.
Why have a firearms and suicide prevention program?
Suicide is a major public health issue, and remains the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s important to note that:
- Half of all suicides in the U.S. are by firearm
- Nearly two thirds of all firearms-related deaths in the U.S. are suicides
- 85 – 90 percent of suicide attempts with a firearm are fatal
As the nation’s largest suicide prevention organization, AFSP is dedicated to using evidence-based approaches to help save as many lives as possible through Project 2025, our nationwide initiative to reduce the annual rate of suicide in the U.S. 20 percent by 2025. Project 2025 identifies four critical areas – firearms, emergency departments, healthcare systems and correctional institutions – through which we can save the most lives in the shortest amount of time.
Educating firearms owners about suicide prevention has the potential to save more than 9,000 lives by 2025, if implemented nationwide. By educating the firearms-owning community about suicide risk, safe storage and removing access to lethal means (including firearms) when someone is at risk, we know we can reduce the rate of suicide and save lives.